Platform for use with elevating-trucks



R. M. ROBERTS.

Inventor. Raymond M. RoberTs WMMyW ATTys.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND M. ROBERTS, OF MELROSE HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

rm'rronm roa USE WITH annvarme-taocxs.

Application filed September 24, 1919. Serial No. 826,092.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND M. Ronnn'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose Highlands, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Platforms for Use with Elevating-Trucks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like.

characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to platforms such as are used in connection with so-called elevating trucks. These platforms are made with a load-supporting portion and with suitable legs which support the load-supporting portion a proper distance from the floor to permit the elevating truckto be run under the platform, and then when the tr'uck is elevated it lifts the platform from the floor so that the platform can be transported on the truck.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved platform which can be manufactured at a small cost, which meets all the requirements of a platform of this type,'and which is constructed so that it can be shipped to the purchaser in a knocked-down state thereby saving transportation charges. The platform is also constructed so that if desired the purchaser may buy simply the side sills or frame of the platform and may -then complete the platform by nailing to the sills planks or boards to constitute the loadsupporting portion of the platform. In this way the purchaser secures a platform at a less cost partly because the sills or frame can be shipped at less expense than the complete platform and partly because he does not have to pay the manufacturer a-profit on the lumber which constitutes the load-receiv ing portion of the platfor 4 Further objects of the invention are to provide a platform having other features of improvement, all as'will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the drawin a selected embodiment thereof which Wlll now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fi re 1 is a perspective view of a platform em odying my invention with portions broken out to show better the construction;

Fig. 2' is a transverse sectional view through the sill taken adjacent one of the i ig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the legs; 7

Fig. 4 is a view of the the leg is made.

y improved platform comprises two sill members extending longitudinally of the platform, each having a metal section to give strength thereto and also comprising a nailing strip, a load-supporting portion which rests on the sills and is nailed to the nailing strip, and legs for supporting the sills which are constructed so as to give proper support to the nailing strip as well as to the metal portion of the sill. The two sills are indicated generally at 1, and each comprises an angle-iron section 2 arranged with one flange 3 extending horizontally and the other flange 4 extending vertically, and a nailing strip 5 which is secured to the an le-iron section 2.

ach nailing strip is made from wood or other suitable material adapted to receive nails, and it is fitted into the corner of the angle-iron member 2, said nailing strip preferably having a thickness substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the angle- 1I'0I1, but having a width greater than the angle-iron so that it projects beyond the blank from which horizontal flange 3. The two sills are arranged with their horizontal angles directed outwardly and the nailing strips 5 are situated on the outside of each sill. Each nailing strip is fitted to the angle-iron so that the top surface of the nailing strip comes flush with the top of the flange 3. Each sill is provided with two or more legs on which it is supported, said legs being indi cated these legs will be presently described.

The load-supporting portion of the platform is in the form of a plurality of boards or planks 7 which rest on the sills 1 and are nailed or otherwise secured to the nailing strips 5. The legs 6 are preferably made of sheet metal bent into the desired shape. Each leg is formed with the two sides 8 and 9 extending at right angles to each other and the side 8 is provided with the extension 10 which fits between the vertical leg of the angle-iron and the inside edge of the nailing strip, said extension being riveted or secured to the angle-iron by suitable fastoning means 11, The side 9 of the leg is generally at 6. The construction of with a horizontal formed at its upper end the top of the exflange l2 situated below tension 10 and in and support the nailing strip 5. This flange 12 is bolted to the nailing strip by suitable bolts 13. The lower ends of the two sides 8 and 9 are connected by a foot portion 23. A leg of this sort can conveniently be made from a blank of sheet metal having the shape shown iri Fig. 4.- by bending said metal along the dotted line 14: to form the two sides and then bending the upper edge of one side along the line 15 to form the flange 12. The portion 23 of the blank is bent to form the foot of the leg. I will preferably weld the foot 23 to the side 8 at 17 and also weld the edgeof the flange 12 to the side 8 at 18, thus adding strength to the leg. A leg having this construction can be easily made and is extremely strong.

One advantage of my invention is that it provides a platform which can be assembled by the purchaser. All the purchaser needs to buy are the two sills with the connected legs. Upon receiving these he can readily cut boards or planks 7 to the required length and nail or bolt them to the nailing strips, and when this is done, the platform is completed. This not only saves transportation because of the small space in which the sills can be shipped compared with the space required for the completed platform, but also avoids the necessity of the purchaser paying a profit to the platform manufacturer on the lumber used for the load-supporting portion thereof.

I claim:

1. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sills, each having a nailing strip extending longitudinally thereof, of legs supporting said sills, and a wooden load-supporting portion resting on the sills and secured to the nailing strips.

2. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sills, each comprising a metal strength-giving element and a nail ing strip secured thereto, of legs supporting said sills, and a wooden load-supporting portion resting von the sills and secured to the nailing strip.

3. In a platform for elevating trucks, the

combination with two sills, each comprising osition to extend under.

an angle-iron member and a nailing strip secured thereto, of legs supporting said sill, and a wooden load-supporting portion resting on the sills and secured to the nailing strips.

4. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sills, each comprising an angle-iron strength-giving element and a wooden nailing strip having its top edge flush with the top of the angle iron, of legs supporting said sills, and a wooden loadsupporting portion resting on the sills and secured to the nailing strips.

5. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sills, each comprising a metal strength-giving element and a wooden nailing strip, of legs secured to the metal element of each sill and having a portion extending under and supporting the nailing strip, and a load-supporting portion resting on the sill and secured to the nailing strip.

6. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sill members, each having a metal strength-giving element and a wooden nailing strip, of sheet metal legs for supporting the sills, each presenting two sides arranged at right angles'to each other, one side extending longitudinally of the sill and secured at its upper end to the metal section thereof and the other side extending transversely to the sill and constituting a support for the nailing strip, and a loadsupporting portion sustained by said sills.

7. In a platform for elevating trucks, the combination with two sills, each having an angle-iron strength-giving element and a nailing strip secured thereto, of sheet metal legs supporting the sills, each leg presenting two sides arranged at right angles to each other, one side having at its upper end an extension which is located between the angleiron and the nailing strip and is secured to the former and the other side having at its upper edge a horizontal flange which extends transversely of and supports the nailing strip, and a load-supporting platform sustained by the sills.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RAYMOND M. ROBERTS. 

